It’s that little piece of advice you got while you were coming up. It may have been something quick and off -hand from someone you never saw again, or a lasting lesson from a mentor who still counsels you to this day, but for whatever reason it stuck with you throughout your career. We asked techs to share their stories of meaningful business advice.

We know that selling retail can increase our bottom line, but for so many of us, selling retail — particularly non-nail items — is a foreboding hurdle. The question to ask is not should I sell retail, but how do I sell retail.

You first met The Manicurist — aka Rebecca Seals — in our April issue and judging by your response, you enjoyed her “pull no punches” attitude. Here’s her take on free repairs, last-minute changes, long-winded excuses, and other headaches of daily salon life.

Tired of biting your tongue where your clients’ misdeeds are concerned? Let The Manicurist tell it like it is. This beauty industry veteran doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to salon etiquette and client complaints. Share these pages with your clients — if you dare.

Your nail station is one of your most valuable business tools. It is your office, your conference room, your classroom, your showroom, and sometimes even your lunchroom. It is where you do your work and spend much of your day — and you deserve to be comfortable. So what would you change about it if you could? From self-sanitizing stations to elaborately themed decor, techs defy the laws of physics, finances, and convention to come up with some innovative solutions for their individual needs.

Whether or not your salon has an official dress code, there are expectations that a certain standard be maintained. Just what that standard is may depend on the atmosphere, size, and location of your salon. We asked techs if there is ever a time when old jeans or sweats are appropriate attire for the salon.

Clients ages 8 to 80 enjoy salon services, but how techs handle an 8-year-old client will be different from how they handle her senior counterpart. Techs can develop a reputation for being the go-to girl among this expanding demographic by understanding the needs of an older client — and taking the time to meet those needs.

With the country facing an economic slowdown of mass proportions, many in the industry are having to adjust the way they do business. But how much of our financial concerns can be blamed on the economy — and how much is simply the result of a change in the industry?

You can’t fix it if you don’t know it’s broken. Make the most out of a mystery shopper program by gathering the most relevant information about your salon and be on your way to creating stellar customer service.